Method for automatically commissioning devices used in building lighting and controls

A system device for a lighting system configured for automated commissioning, said system device comprising:

• a light sensor operable to receive light output by a light fixture of the lighting system and provide a signal indicative of the received light;
• a system device controller operable to:
• receive the signal indicative of the received light;
• demodulate the received signal indicative of the received light to determine a commissioning code with which the received light is modulated, wherein the determined commissioning code is one of a plurality of unique commissioning codes and corresponding to the light fixture providing the light output;
• and
• send an acknowledgement message to a system controller of the lighting system via a communication link of the lighting system in response to determining the commissioning code.

A lighting system comprising:

• a communication link;
• at least one light fixture connected to the communication link, the light fixture comprising a lamp, a light fixture controller, and a ballast,
• wherein the light fixture is operable in response to receiving a commissioning command via the communication link to output light from the lamp modulated with a unique commissioning code corresponding to the light fixture;
• and
• one or more system devices connected to the communication link, each of the system devices comprising a light sensor, and a system device controller;
• and wherein:
• the light sensor is operable to generate a light sensor output signal that is indicative of modulated light output from the light fixture received at the system device,
• the system device controller is operable to demodulate the light sensor output signal to determine the unique commissioning code modulated on the light received at the system device, wherein the unique commissioning code is determined from a plurality of unique commissioning codes, and
• the system device controller comprises a signal transmitter operable to transmit an acknowledgement message via the communication link in response to determining a commissioning code.

A method of initializing system devices in a lighting system comprising the steps of:

• sending an initialize command to a targeted system device in the lighting system by modulating a light output from a light fixture of the lighting system, the light output modulated in accordance with a unique commissioning code from a plurality of unique commissioning codes associated with the lighting system;
• receiving the initialize command in the targeted system device by sensing the modulated light output from the light fixture;
• and
• in response to receiving the initialize command, sending an acknowledgement message from the targeted system device.

A method of commissioning a plurality of system devices installed in a lighting system and coupled to a communication link, the lighting system further comprising first and second light fixtures coupled to the communication link, the method comprising:

• receiving in the first light fixture a first commissioning command via the communication link;
• modulating a light output from the first light fixture in response to the received commissioning command, the modulated light output defining a first commissioning code;
• determining the first commissioning code via the modulated light output from the first light fixture at a first set of one or more of the plurality of system devices;
• in response to the determined first commissioning code, sending via the communication link an acknowledgement message from the first set of one or more system devices;
• receiving in the second light fixture a second commissioning command via the communication link;
• modulating a light output from the second light fixture in response to the received commissioning command, the modulated light output defining a second commissioning code;
• determining the second commissioning code via the modulated light output from the second light fixture at a second set of one or more of the plurality of system devices;
• in response to the determined commissioning code, sending via the communication link an acknowledgement message from the second set of one or more system devices;
• and
• based on the acknowledgment messages, associating one or more of the system devices and the first light fixture with a first group, area or zone, and associating one or more of the system devices and the second light fixture with a second group, area or zone.